Interim Canaries boss hints at new signings after stressful first step into management

Barwell caretaker manager Guy Hadland is in talks with a number of transfer targets as he looks to ‘freshen up’ his squad over the festive period.

After long-serving manager Jimmy Ginnelly joined Nuneaton Borough last week, assistant manager Hadland has stepped into his shoes and endured a stressful start to life in the managerial hotseat.

Despite narrow defeats to Stratford Town and Coalville Town in the space of six days, Hadland is confident that his side can turn their fortunes around with some work on the training field and some new faces in the dressing room.

Barwell caretaker manager Guy Hadland.

“I’ve got a few lads that I’m talking to at the moment,” Hadland said.

“Things [on the transfer front] may start to move next week. I’ve got a good squad here. I haven’t got a lot to worry about, I just need to freshen it up.

“The lads don’t need to become too comfortable with their shirt. I think that we can be a threat going forward. If we can get a couple of clean sheets, things will come together.”

Hadland is understood to be targeting two forwards, plying their trade in steps three and four of the non-league pyramid, and a defender who is in high demand following his release from a Premier League academy.

They are targets he’s had to identify quickly, as it’s been a whirlwind introduction to management for the 39-year-old former Aston Villa defender.

“No,” Hadland laughed, when asked if he’d enjoyed his first few days in management.

“On Saturday, it was all very quick. The decision came on Thursday about Jimmy going… We went 1-0 up on Saturday against a very good side and we conceded in the 92nd minute [to lose 2-1].”

With Hadland set to be in charge until at least the end of the month, it’s a key few weeks for the club as they look to avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle in the Evo-Stik Southern League Central Division Premier.